Method and apparatus for tunnel construction and the like



Feb. 7, 1933. H, DUNLQP 1,896,439

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION AND THE LIKE Filed April11, 1930 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1933. NL P 1,896,439

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TUNNEL CONSTRUCTi'ON AND THE LIKE Fiied April11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 .UNrreo T ATE S1 GEORGEHENRY DUNLOP, MELBOURNE, V'I(J'J.Ol3.IA", A' USTRALI'Ai METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION AND THELIKE Application filed April11, 1930, Serial No.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for tunnelconstruction and the like including shaft construction.

It will be described as used in connection with av shield-drivensubaqueous tunnel wherein compressed air is employed.

The improvements constituting the inven-' tioninclude i (1) The use of apilot tunnel the bottom of which is employed as a base for the largertunnel to be constructed, the object being to facilitate construction. r(2) Packing attachments on the outside of the linings used following theshield to prevent inflow of water or outflow of air.

(3) Subdivision of permanent tunnel linings by transverse partitions tostifien such tunnel linings against bending stresses.

(4) The use of instruments, as for example spirit levels, fixed'withinthe shield, so that departure from true direction may be noted duringmovement of the shield and the use of rods or tape measures inconnection with lateral direction.

(5) The injection of fluid between the outside of the'shell and theground so as to facilitate-movement' and act as a lubricant.

In large tunnels a pilot tunnel may be driven for investigation of theground ahead. This may be placed according to this invention at suchlevel that the shield-used for the main work may slide on the suitablyconstructedinvert' of the pilot tunnel or base thereof and may therebybe guided both as to line and level and the dificulty of maintainingtruedirection of the shield will thereby be reduced. The pilot tunnel may beused for transport of earth, etc., during construction.

The packing attachments on the outside of the ribs may be similar toU-leathers in pumps or presses or the like, arranged to act one or bothways, to prevent the passage of fluid, as for examples compressed air orwater.

By the use'of means such as aspirit level fixed within the shielddeviation from true direction during movementcan be seen at I once andcorrected without waiting until it may have become'considerable andcorrection detect initial deviationfrom true direction;

443,535; and in Australia April 13, .1929.

difficult, as for example atthe completionof the movement for each ringoflirii'ng;

Similarly tapes or rods may be used at the sides during. movementof-t'he'shieldfso as to Fluid such as Water may be forced outside of theshield between the shield and the ground so as to act as a lubricant andfacili tate movement. This mayibe of" use in steering the shield tofacilitatemovement-of one part of it for altering direction. For thispurpose means can be provided to allow space." forthe fluid, by havingthe cuttingedge slightly larger than the portion behind it.

In large tunnels for traflicthere may bedivisions and by suitable designin connection with these the outer liningmay be stiffened andstrengthened. v

The accompanying drawings il-lustratie' practical forms of the inventionand com pr1se Fig. 1 a vertical section through a tunnel underconstruction and port-ion of the pilot tunnel and- F Fig. 2 is a sectionon line II'II ofFig- 1; Figs. 3,?1 and 5 are enlarged sectional detailsillustrating the packing attachments.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation ofthespiritv level fixed to the side ofa portion of the shield. i

Fig; 7 is a horizontal section drawntoreduced scale through the mainvtunnelillustrating the use of the tape measures.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of'the reel and Q51 dial associated withsuch tape measure. I

Fig. 9 is a-vertical section through the lining of a tunnel illustratingthe stiffening partitiOIi. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the usual hydraulictunnelling shield 1 is illustrated with hydraulic'rams '2 and a. tunnellining 3'progressively constructed as the excavations advance in frontof the shield.

The cylindrical lining 3- as illustrated"; is formed in sectionssupported by circular ribs; comprising outer members 4* and centralmember 4, the peripheryof which projectsbeyondthe lining 3 andeventuallya lining; 16 Fig. 9, usually of concrete is constructed 0 onthe interior of the constructional members of the tunnel.

According to this invention the pilot tunnelface of the concrete iscurved to the radius of the main tunnel as illustratedinFig. 2.

It will be understood that the ma] or upper portion of the pilot tunnel7 in Fig.1 is dismantled and removed as the main tunnel is progressivelyconstructed.

' The concrete base 6 of the pilot tunnel constitutes a satisfactoryslide guide for the main tunnel both as to line and level, therebyfacilitating true direction of the shield 1 when being advanced.

A spirit level 8 Figs. 1 and 6 is fixed within the'shell of the shieldwith means such as a screw and nuts 9 for adjustingthe spirit levelrelatively to the shield. In Fig. 2 the shield 1 with rams 22 is shownresting on the concrete base 6 in the pilot tunnel 7 and the. spiritlevel 8 is shown on the left hand side of the shield. In Figs. 3, 4 and5 there is shown a layer 10 of suitable packing material fixed to therib member 4 of the tunnel lining which extends out close to the shieldat 5; this layer is secured to the rib member 4 by means of nails ll'orthe like;

In Fig. 3 the edges at each side of the packing material are free toturn up and press tightly against the shell of the shield at 12.12. InFig. ithe layer of packing materlal is in the form of a U piece 13secured to the part 4 of the lining by nails, which construction isadapted to prevent passage of fluid between the lining'and the shield inthe direction of the arrow 15. As a further alternative construction twoU pieces 14 as shown in Fig. 5 could be used facing opposite ways so asto prevent passage of fluid either way.

In Fig. 7 is shown in sectional plan the shield 1 with the tunnel lining3 and tape measures 18.18 attached to hooks 19 on part of the bulkheadof the shield 1 at each side and extending back along the inside of thelining to a combined reel and dial or other suitable device at 20.20 sothat as the shield moves forward the tapes will be held taut and drawthrough the devices so as to show continuously at each side during themovement forward of the shield the extent of the advance at each side inorder that the shield may be directed. Fig. 8 shows the tape 18 inenlarged detail'includinga reel at 21 and a'dial 22 through which thetape is drawn and read at the mark 23. Each tape measure may be readilyattached to and detached from the shield by passing the usual ring atthe end of the tape over the hook 19 connected to part of the bulkheadof the shield 1.

It will be evident that measure rods may be used in lieu of tapes.

In Fig. 9 the concrete lining 16 is shown with a transverse partition 17extending from side to side of the lining. Such partitions have beenused in tunnels adapted to form within the tunnel an outlet for thepassage of airbeing withdrawn from the tunnel for the purpose ofventilation; the purpose of the part 17 according to this invention isto make this part strong enough to act asa connection between the upperpart of the lining so as to-strengthen it against loading on the top ofthetunnel. I

The aforesaid improvements are designed to render more effective theordinary tunnelling shield in general use by closer connection betweenthe shield and the lining and at the same time to facilitate theoperation of the shield in respect to progress and direction.

In effect there is given to the shield a close fit between the liningand the shield by means which will not prevent the slight changesfofdirection of the shield relative to the lining necessary for maintainingand correcting the alignment and level of the shield.

The pilot tunnel'will serve for preliminarv exploration for ascertainingthe nature of the ground, will facilitate the transport of the excavatedground forward while work is proceeding in and behind the shield, forexample erection of the lining. The pilot tunnel will be constructed ofany suitable size and form preferably so that it can bereadilydismantled to the extent necessary as the shield is advanced; andwill be suitably prepared to assist in supporting and guiding the shieldas described.

7 It will be understood that the pilot tunnel may be used in advance ofother known types of tunnel machines as well as with the shield, forexample tunnelling machines with rotating cutters used for excavatingtunnels in firm clay, soft rock or the like. i

The spirit level is used for noting and showing the level of the shieldor tunnel machine. It will be set in position relative to said shield ormachine so as to show the direction of either of same relative to itstrue direction.

Tapes are used instead of rods and the like because they will lessinterfere with work within the shield and tunnel; they can easily beunhooked from the shield and put aside when the shield is not beingmoved.

The spirit level and tapes will be especially necessaryin tunnels,especially small tunnels, where the pilot tunnel may notbe used.

Any suitable means may be adopted for injecting fluid between theoutside of the shell or other part of the shield where there is movementof the shield relative to the earth;

for example small jets or pipes may extend through the shell 4 or otherpart of the shield as at 24.24 in Fig. 1 and water may be forced throughthese pipes from a connected hose or nel to be constructed ispreliminarily formed, 7

the construction whereby the base of said pilot tunnel is locatedapproximately at the prearranged level of the bottom of said main tunneland the base of said pilot tunnel is utilized to guide and supportsaid'slidable shield or tunnel machine and afterwards to support saidmain tunnel.

2. In tunnel construction as set forth in claim 1, the construction inwhich the upper part of the pilot tunnel is removed in sections, afilling is placed on the base of the pilot tunnel and the surface ofsaid filling is constructed to correspond to the form of the bottom ofthe-main tunnel.

8. In tunnel construction employing a slidable shield or tunnel machinewith independently controllable propelling rams in advance of the tunnellining, the provision of tape measures attached to said shield ormachine and dial attachments fixed on the sides of the main tunnel, saidtapes being drawn through said dial attachments so that the relativeadvance of each side of the shield may be continuously observed and thedirectional course of said shield may be corrected if necessary bysuitable regulation of said rams.

4. In tunnel construction employing a slidable shield or tunnelmachinewith independently controllable propelling rams in advance of the tunnellining, level indicating means attached to the shield or machine incombination with tape measures attached to said shield or machine anddial attachments fixed on the sides of the main tunnel beingprogressively constructed, said tapes being drawn through said dialattachments.

GEORGE HENRY DUNLOP.

